The Book of Kindness

The Book of Kindness is an absolute pleasure to read. It’s a gorgeous, compelling, and deeply moving novel that had me both smiling and shedding a tear or two. The emotional depth of the story really struck a chord with me.

The journey begins with September, living with her boyfriend Shaun, stuck in a seemingly hopeless situation. Then, out of nowhere, a letter arrives, bringing with it a glimmer of possibility. This letter is the spark that sets everything in motion. September discovers she had a Great-aunt Lucia, who has passed away, leaving her an inheritance that changes everything.

Having been abandoned as a baby, September never believed she’d learn anything about her birth family. She had resigned herself to the idea that she was unwanted and that there was no more to know. But this is the story of her birth family—and of Lucia, her great aunt, whose legacy will change her life. September goes to visit the house she has inherited, intending only to get a feel for it before selling it to secure a better future for herself and Shaun. But the house, and Lucia’s story, begin to pull her in.

The novel beautifully shifts between Lucia’s perspective from the past and September’s present-day experiences. I found myself completely captivated by Lucia’s character—I wish I had a Lucia in my life! Her warmth and wisdom are so endearing, and the descriptions of her home made it sound like a magical place. It even made me want to hop on a train to Harrogate (which I’ve only visited once, for tea at Bettie’s, of course!).
The book club members September encounters are a wonderfully diverse and interesting bunch, each with their own unique stories and backgrounds. They offer not only friendship but also insights into her family history, and some of the most emotional moments in the novel come from their interactions. Each character is so richly developed, and I loved how their stories unfolded.

September herself is such a relatable character. The contrast between her life before the inheritance, scraping by with loose change in her pocket, and the new opportunities that open up after Lucia’s gift felt so real. Her constant fear that it could all be taken away at any moment made her journey even more compelling.

This novel is filled with lovely surprises and little moments of possibility that kept me hooked until the very end. The Book of Kindness is simply beautiful, full of heart, and a reminder of the transformative power of compassion, family, and connection. I can’t recommend it highly enough!

Thank you to NetGalley, Headline and Stephanie Butland for the opportunity to read and review this novel.
I requested, and was granted, a digital arc of this novel in September 2024 and I read the book in less than 24 hours. Once I started I just didn’t want to put it down. I will be buying at least one copy of the paperback on its release in April 2025 and I cannot wait to enjoy the story all over again – and I have a friend who I know will love it too!

I absolutely loved this novel. It was heartbreaking to read sometimes though, just at the silliness of humanity and how a life can be changed irrevocably by one decision. But, it was so lovely to read. This book is about family, found family, love, loss, bad decisions, friendship and finding our purpose. It's also about books! And who doesn't love a book about books? The end of this book comes with a list of all the books mentioned in this novel, and I for one, am going to try my best to read them all. Well, the ones I haven't actually read, When a couple of my favourites were mentioned, I was like, Yes! That was a good choice.

if you like novels by Sarah Winman, Juliette Henderson and Clare Pooley, I think you will enjoy this sweeping story with dual POV about an orphan who gets found. While September is living her life and coming to terms with a family she never thought she would know, we have a dual timeline in the past which gives us the information on how she was lost.. I found this particularly heartbreaking and just reignites my feeling of we really should live the life we want, and not worry so much about what 'others' say. Yes, it might be difficult because we need to be brave to step outside the lines of what others consider is good for you, but oh, our lives will be so much richer.

This book had me hooked from the first page and I cant wait until it is released so I can share it far and wide.
I am also now going in search of her back list, because as a mood reader, sometimes this is exactly what I am in the mood to read.

Thank you to the publisher for the ARC, it was a joy to read. Highly recommend.
Review to follow on the socials.

This book was a fairly hard but wonderful read. Following September through the emotional highs and lows of finding her true family too late, yet finding a chosen family to support her through it was emotional and I couldn’t put the book down. Each time the narrative flicked from September to Lucia I was desperate to get back to the other to see what was happening next at their respective stages in life. A really thought provoking read and I will be searching out more from this author.

Oh, how I loved this book! It’s so well written, the story is engaging and beautiful. I also loved that there is a list of all the books mentioned at the end.

I can’t wait to pick this up again in a few months time, I’m sure there are other layers that will reveal themselves on a second reading.

This is a beautiful book, about the positive impact of kindness. September was abandoned as a toddler but adopted by kind and loving parents. She has a happy childhood, knowing she is loved by good people. However, following the death of her parents, life becomes more of a struggle, and her partner, Shaun, doesn’t appear to be pulling his weight. She is constantly worrying about debt, and scraping to afford food and clothes. When she receives unexpected news about an inheritance, her life is about to change. Her benefactor, her Aunt Lucia, has had disappointments in her life, but compensated by trying both to give and receive kindness. September has a lot to learn about what actually constitutes kindness. It isn’t just making meaningless contributions to charity, it’s about trying to understand the needs of others. For a book lover, this book is a joy, as Aunt Lucia was a librarian and set up a reading group. The recommended books would make a perfect list of literature to introduce one to the pleasure of reading. This book is moving, thought provoking and very beautiful. A celebration of love, in all its forms, and an exploration of the true meaning of kindness. I think we all would benefit from reading it, and enjoy the experience.

I absolutely loved this book! Being adopted myself I understood a lot of the trauma. I just couldn’t put it down. Cried so much, such a heart warming story.

September is working all the hours she can get in a supermarket, struggling to make ends meet and frustrated with her long-term partner's attitude to work (which is to say, he doesn't). Abandoned as a baby and subsequently adopted, she has never known where she came from and, after the death of her parents, has no family to fall back on. So when she is contacted by a solicitor to say she's inherited a large house and an even larger sum of money, it seems like all her problems are solved. But September is soon to learn that money doesn't automatically bring happiness.

The Book of Kindness is just the most lovely novel: reading it felt like being enveloped in a warm hug. Highly recommended for a cosy, comforting read that is well written, wryly funny, and imbued with literary references which will please any book lover.

I was crying after read the epilog. This book is beautiful writen. I love how the author show us about September's ups downs, about how her background stories, and how September's end up in her current life.

This book has vintage vibes, since there're POV in the past.

I really love this kind of book. Just give more time to write proper review, cause I still can't move on from the book.

Life is hard for September, she seems to be always tired and hungry scrimping on everything to make ends meet despite working all the hours she can get at the supermarket. Her boyfriend is happy go lucky and don't understand why she can't relax. Things change suddenly when she receives a solicitors letter asking her to confirm her identity. From then on life begins to change for September as she discovers a whole world she didn't know existed. I totally loved this book and was sad to finish it. Will definitely be exploring Stephanie Butland's back catalogue!

A lovely read - deeply moving, life affirming.

September has had a difficult life - adopted, both parents die young; working a dead end job trying to make ends meet with a boyfriend who is dragging her down. Then she is contacted by a firm of solicitors about a potential legacy and her life changes overnight.

She inherits a house in Harrogate from a great-aunt she did not know existed and begins a journey into her past finding out about her mother and her aunt from her aunt’s friends particularly her book group. She learns about her birth family and begins to put down roots in this new community. She makes friends and begins to look forward to what life will bring.

Learning about her father allows her to make contact with her half sister and fills in further gaps in her story. She follows her aunt’s lead in focusing on acts of kindness and finds her way to make decisions about her future.

A positive hopeful book despite the sadness of her back story.

One to be recommended.

This is a captivating tale that beautifully blends the themes of self-discovery, friendship, and the healing power of a place to call home. I loved how it emphasizes the importance of connection, not just with the past but also with new friends and a community. The arrival of the book club members adds a delightful layer, showcasing how shared stories can bridge gaps and foster relationships. As September navigates the complexities of her newfound inheritance, the story captures the essence of taking risks and embracing change. The writing is warm and engaging, drawing you into September’s world and making her struggles feel intimately familiar. This book left me with a sense of comfort and inspiration, reminding us that sometimes, the greatest treasures are the ones we never knew we were searching for. If you’re looking for a heartfelt read that explores the intersection of family history and personal growth, this novel is definitely worth picking up!

What a book . September had had an interesting life. She was a lovely person and being left money really helped her but in a good way. It was set mainly in Harrogate . Made you sad when you learnt about her x and taking dry bread to work to pretend it was a sandwich. You so felt for her birth mother and birth father and her grandmother and her great Aunt. Different times and attitudes. It moved between different characters and times. It worked really well. A fantastic read.

What a really good book this is!
Loved September & really felt for her.
Will read more by Stephanie Butland.

A great read. It was really heartwarming and a great cast of characters. I really enjoyed it. Highly recommended.

A lovely book about family and friendship, The protagonist, September, receives an inheritance that was a surprise to her.

Adopted as a child, she learns about a family she didn't know through the members of a book club she becomes part of.

This is a lovely book by this author, a feel good read with lots of lovely surprises. I definitely recommend.

Thank you to Net Galley for an advanced copy